What You Need to
Know about Blood Thinner Pills

It’s easy to take
medicines for granted. When we’re sick, we may
take a drug a few times a day to relieve our
symptoms. Then, when we’re feeling better, we go
back to our daily routine.

But some
medicines, such as blood thinner pills, require
you to make lifestyle changes, such as taking
them at the same time each day and making sure
you don’t injure yourself. These changes are
important for you to stay safe and healthy.

Each year, nearly
2 million Americans start taking a blood thinner
pill to prevent
blood clots from forming in their
bloodstream. Blood clots can lead to strokes,
heart attacks, or other serious health
conditions.

If your doctor
thinks you are at risk for having a blood clot
because you can’t move around easily or you’ve
had recent surgery or an injury, your doctor may
put you on a blood thinner.

Blood thinners,
also called anti-coagulants, work very well when
they’re taken correctly. Because they help your
blood flow more easily, blood thinners lower
your risk of developing dangerous blood clots.

But blood
thinners also increase your chance of bleeding.
When taking a blood thinner, you need to be
careful when going about your daily routine. For
example, you should take extra care to avoid
getting cuts from sharp instruments, such as
knives, tools, or other sharp objects. You must
also carefully follow your doctor’s instructions
about your diet and how much of and how often to
take your blood thinner.

Like learning to
drive a car, taking blood thinners will require
you to learn and practice several important
steps so they become habits. To help patients
remember these steps, my agency, the Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), recently
made a
video (17.6 MB [Transcript])
and produced a
consumer guide. These tools will help you
get the best results from your blood thinner.

The video
describes the "BEST" way for you to remember
important tips about blood thinners. BEST stands
for:

Be
careful. Use caution when doing activities
that put you at risk for getting a cut or
bruise. Even a small cut can bleed more than
usual. Wear work gloves when working with
tools, for example. Avoid high-risk sports
or other dangerous activities. And if you do
injure yourself, such as from a fall or hard
bump to the head, call your doctor
immediately.

Eat
right. Your diet can affect how your blood
thinner works. Do not eat or drink anything
your doctor has told you to avoid. For
example, your doctor may advise against
eating or drinking items that are high in
vitamin K (such as leafy green vegetables,
vitamins, and herbal supplements) because
they can interfere with some blood thinners.
Most important, keep your diet consistent,
both in the type and amount of foods you
eat.

Stick
to a routine. Take your blood thinner pills
at the same time every day. You can have
family members remind you, use a pillbox, or
set the alarm on your watch. It’s also
important to talk to all of your doctors
about all other medicines or supplements you
take and to tell your doctors about any
changes in your medicines. Also, talk to
your doctor before taking aspirin because it
also acts like a blood thinner.

Test
regularly. Blood tests let your doctor know
if you are getting too much or too little
medicine. Your doctor may order an INR blood
test. That stands for International
Normalized Ratio, which is a calculation of
the amount of time it takes for your blood
to clot. Based on the results, your doctor
may need to adjust your dose. It is very
important that you have your blood checked
regularly if your doctor tells you it’s
necessary. Home testing kits are available
and covered by
Medicare.

Taking a blood
thinner does require you to make adjustments in
your lifestyle. But just a few changes, followed
each day, will ensure you’re getting the
benefits you need from this medicine. By
following the BEST way and talking with your
doctor, you’ll help your blood thinner work well
and safely for you.

I’m Dr. Carolyn
Clancy, and that’s my advice on how to navigate
the health care system.